Can you imagine buying 1,008 bottles of wine in one year? That’s 200 gallons to be exact – the same amount that each American household was allowed to make for ‘personal use’ during Prohibition. And the go-to grape during this DIY time wasn’t Cabernet or Merlot, it was the bold and juicy Alicante Bouschet - widely planted in California but originally from Portugal.
Today, award-winning winemaker Jamie Quendera has crafted a mighty, Reserva-quality red, from rare 100-year-old vines. And the unique twist? Jamie aged the wine for 12 months in custom double casks. The top and bottom are French oak (imparting subtle spice) while the long side planks are American (for vanilla notes). The result is an ultra-smooth, cherry-ripe, well-spiced drop!
This is a stellar white Rioja. It’s the flagship of Altos, a cellar founded in 2006 by winemaker Jean-Marc Sauboua, and already with 125 Golds. Old-vine Viura and Chardonnay, fermented in barrel, this is intense, citrusy and toasty.
But a huge haul of Golds later and they've changed their minds. The velvety black fruits that are so loved by our customers can now be enjoyed tenfold with the even richer Reserva edition.
José has searched out the very finest, low-yielding and intensely ripe Alicante grapes for this super cuvée, and you can taste the mouth filling difference.
Even more richness and spice, but at only 13%, it's still no heavyweight and has a lovely zip of freshness to all that blackberry, cassis and damson fruit.
Enjoy with richly flavoured casseroles and red meat dishes.
From a fourth-generation-owned Pauillac cellar, B de Fonbadet may fall under the humble Bordeaux label, but it’s intensity and complexity leave no doubt about its high-end quality. This 2019 has even won the Decanter’s esteemed Platinum medal.
Bleasdale Vineyards have been proudly owned by the Potts family for five generations. Founder Frank Potts was born in Hounslow, and joined the Royal Navy at the tender age of 9! He started his career as a powder monkey and travelled the world several times, before settling in South Australia in 1836. Originally a carpenter, in 1850 he spotted a great plot of land near the town of Langhorne Creek. He and his new wife decided to buy it and began farming. Theirs was the first winery of the region.
In 2007, Paul Hotker became their winemaker (Winemaker of the Year in 2018) and since then they've won 60+ Trophies. For 25 years, they've used Cabernet Franc in blends, but here have bottled it solo. Enjoy its crunchy fruit freshness. Serve cool.
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Casa Primicia is one of the oldest buildings in Rioja Alavesa – in the 15th century it was where the Church collected tithes. In 1985 the Madrid brothers bought it and converted it into a winery. A host of prestigious awards soon followed, including the ‘Grand Prix d’Honneur’ at Vinexpo in Bordeaux. Grapes for this wine come from a beautiful 40-year-old vineyard and a good vintage.
Winemaker was Fernando Domingo (he trained under great oenologist Don Manuel Ruiz Hernández), who aged the wine in American and French oak barrels for 18 months, the rest in bottle, to obtain the perfect balance of subtle spice and deep fruit. A superb Rioja Reserva with red berry notes, cocoa, vanilla and toasty oak. Excellent with tapas, lamb or rice dishes.
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Since its launch, Casa Silva has become widely regarded as one of Chile’s best and named 'Winery of the Year' four times. It was founded by fourth generation Mario Silva, from one of Chile's oldest winemaking dynasties. They started in Angostura, but their latest venture is in Paredones, Colchagua. Just 6km from the coast, it is described by Decanter as "a source of terrific whites and reds".
Casa Silva has been one of its ardent pioneers, championing the region's ability to produce seriously fine, cool climate wines. Cool Coast Pinot Noir is an outstanding example of what they can do: brimful of ripe raspberry, with an elegant freshness. If this were from New Zealand you’d be paying twice as much. Perfect on its own or with white meats.
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